The Challenge of Involving Medical Doctors as Important Frontline Responders in Fighting Domestic Violence

Sondern L, Pfleiderer B

Abstract

For victims of domestic violence, medical problems in the short-term are injuries and in the long-term health issues such as mental health problems, consequences of untreated sexual transmitted diseases or stress related health issues evolving from the abuse they've experienced by a partner or any other family member. This inevitably makes victims seek the help of the medical profession. The medical profession is therefore an important stakeholder in the group of frontline responders detecting and intervening domestic abuse. Unfortunately, the medical profession is often not an active partner in frontline responder networks. In this article, problems cutting medical professionals out of the networks of frontline responders and reasons why they should be integrated are presented. The paper also discusses what needs to be changed in order to better integrate the medical profession in the circle of frontline responders working against domestic violence.